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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Virginia

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 20, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; The Virginia Cavaliers will face the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Continental Tire Main Event Championship game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; The Virginia Cavaliers will face the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Continental Tire Main Event Championship game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) reacts during a free throw attempt against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) reacts during a free throw attempt against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

4. We need to win the rebounding battle

In the previous slide, I touched on my thoughts about Illinois potentially losing some defensive abilities after so many players departed this past offseason. Well, the same goes for the Illini being able to rebound the basketball.

When Kofi Cockburn and the great rebounding guards left the program, I thought Illinois might take a dip when it came to rebounding. That didn’t happen in the first few games.

Illinois was able to win the rebounding battle in the first three games this season. The closest matchup was against Kansas City when we outrebounded the Roos 43-40.

Over the past two games, the Illini haven’t won the rebounding battle. Against UCLA, we were outrebounded 39-38. Thankfully, Terrence Shannon Jr. put on his cape and saved the day with a tremendous second half performance.

Illinois didn’t have that luxury against Virginia. Shannon didn’t put up huge numbers, so there wasn’t someone to save the day. Against the Cavaliers, we were outrebounded again, this time by a wider margin. Virginia clipped us in the rebounding department, 37-34.

What is a fix to the rebounding problem? I think the solution goes hand-in-hand with the second slide of a lineup adjustment. If we get Dain Dainja into the starting rotation, and he can get 25-30 minutes per game, then Illinois is going to pull down more rebounds than every team in the nation.

Additionally, without Dainja on the court, Illinois is a perimeter team. That means we have nearly everyone out on the three-point arc. It is hard to get any second-chance points when no one is in the paint.

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